On Friday, Princess Anne visited Glasgow Airport to help celebrate its golden anniversary, almost fifty years to the day since her mother, The Queen opened the airport. She was greeted to musical performance by the Royal Marines Band in the International Arrivals area, before being received by the Lord Lieutenant for Renfrewshire, Guy Clark, and the managing director of Glasgow Airport, Amanda Mc Millan OBE.
The Princess Royal then met local dignitaries and guests. Included in those was East Dunbartonshire Provost, Una Walker, as a police officer fifty years ago she had been on duty when the Queen opened the Airport. Princess Anne was then given a guided tour of the main terminal where she was able to meet with members of staff past and present who had worked at Glasgow Airport over the last fifty years.
She also met representatives of charities, including Paisley Thread Mill and Drumchapel Table Tennis Club. that have benefitted from one of the airports latest initiatives. Since 2010, over £1million has been awarded to local charities and community groups from the Glasgow Airport Flightpath Fund. The Princess Royal was further entertained by members of Glasgow Philharmonic Choir performing “Caledonia” before she unveiled a plaque to mark her visit.
Before leaving, the Princess Royal was escorted to the Airfield Operations Tower, where she watched a low-level flypast by two RAF Hawk jets.
Following the royal visit, Amanda McMillan said: “It was an honour to welcome The Princess Royal to Glasgow Airport once again.
“Given Princess Anne’s affinity with the airport, and the fact The Queen herself performed the official opening ceremony 50 years previous, today’s visit was a fitting way to mark our golden anniversary.
“I was particularly pleased The Princess Royal recognised the hard work and dedication not only of those instrumental in our humble beginnings half a century ago, but that she had a clear appreciation of the effort made day in, day out by the people who make Glasgow Airport the success it is today.”